Improvement in bridle-bits



L. EABHART. BRIDLE-BIT. No@177,8Z2 Patented M35123, 1876.

9 49mm; W

N. PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASMNGTON D C UNITED I STATES PATENT Orrro.

LEWIS EARHART, OF ERVIN, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRlDLE-BITS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,822, dated May 23, 1876; application filed January 21, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS EARHAR'I, of Ervin, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits and I do'hereby declare that the following is a full clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the let ters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a bridle-bit and bridle, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which-my invention appertains to make,

and use the same,'I willnow proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, which represents a perspective View of my bit and bridle.

The bit is composed of two ba s, A A, connected at their inner ends by a link, B, and having at their outer ends the usual ringsG O for attaching the cheek-straps D .D, as well as the reins. At or near the center of each bar A is a projecting lug, a, over which is passed the forked end of an upright, E, pivoted thereto. The horses nose goes through between two curb-straps, G G, which are fastened to the two working uprights, E E, and their other ends fastened to a strap, H, running from the nose to the top of the head-s tall I, and for kicking horses this strap will extend behind the withers. The curb-straps are thus on the top of the nose instead of on the under jaw, as is usually the case. These straps, when tightened up, keep the bit close to the roof of the mouth, and by drawing on the reins will raise the short link B in the center of the bit hard to the gums. This bit is especially intended for runaway and kicking horses, and works entirely on the upper jaw,

the points of attachment of the reins.

being free from the lower 'aw. If the pulling on the reins does not sub ue the horse a more severe method is to jerk first one rein and then the other, when one end of the centerlink will be raised first and then the other, and so on alternately, which it is impossible for the horse to endure long. Another advantage is that the horse cannot hold the bit in his teeth, as he has no relief or comfort by putting his chin to the breast, as horses frequent] y do.

I am aware that a bit has been used with sliding arms, connected with a strap across the nose of the horse. My uprights are pivoted at certain fixed points on the bit, retaining always the same relative position to The sliding arms are apt to move outto the ends of the bit, and would not then perform the function designed, but by having them always at the same distance from the ends of the bit they cannot act otherwise than in the manner contemplated, i. 6., as fulcrums upon which the bars of the bit' turn always in the same manner.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a bit composed of the bars A A, and center connecting-link B, of the uprights or arms E E, pivoted to ears a on the bit-bars A, the curb-straps G G, and

center-strap H, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. LEWIS EARHART.

Witnesses:

NATHAN PETERS,

JOSIAH W001). 

